OT: LAHTI L35 PISTOL

Bruce Scott · Post by **Bruce Scott** » Sun Apr 13, 2008 3:45 am

There is supposed to be a shipment of Lahtis coming into Aust in the near future. Anyone have any experience of them?

LAHTI L35

HUSQVARNA M40

I found this 1980 UK article on the Lahti L35/Husqvarna M40
http://www.quarry.nildram.co.uk/Lahti.html

Rusty · Post by **Rusty** » Sun Apr 13, 2008 5:33 am

A friend of mine had one back in the late 70's. It was a fine example of workmanship and engineering IMHO. It pointed well, natural like a Luger. The only problem was the trigger pull. It was heavy like a military handgun made for shooting in cold weather should be. I'm sure it was exactly what the military needed at the time.

Cliff · Post by **Cliff** » Sun Apr 13, 2008 7:16 am

There was a good write up on these, not certain of the Magazine, but they were very well made and as mentioned heavy triggers and are heavy. It seems the Finnish built were the most desireable, the fit and finish was excellent as they were carefully handbuilt and finished, with rust blue. Of course the Swede's built a whole bunch more than the Finns did as they used a more modern approach. Anyway they were popular and expensive, but at the time they proved themselves very well. Great pistols.

2ndovc · Post by **2ndovc** » Sun Apr 13, 2008 7:57 am

Excellent pistols. I had one for many years, wish I hadn't sold it. Super reliable and very accurate.

They were designed for the cold. rugged and brutal cold climate of Northern Europe. There's usually a discussion about them over on www.gunboards.com

mescalero1 · Post by **mescalero1** » Sun Apr 13, 2008 10:52 am

My uncle still has his, I have spent the better potion of my life surrounded by precision machining and aircraft.
If you have never seen one of these, and you get the opportunity; take a close look at it.
The fit and finish are superb.
You will rarely see a pistol more carefully made.

kaschi · Post by **kaschi** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 9:35 pm

I have one that I am selling with an extra mag. It's Swedish(like the one in the picture). I believe it's called the M40? It's in nice shape. The original L35 is the Finnish version but they are pretty much the same. If anyone is interested, let me know soon. My FFL dealer presently has it and is supposed to put it on Gunbroken in the near future. Thanks.

awp101 · Post by **awp101** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 10:03 pm

kaschi wrote:I have one that I am selling with an extra mag. It's Swedish(like the one in the picture). I believe it's called the M40?

That would be a Husquvarna M40 IIRC.

It's a shame I'm tapped out...

Noah Zark · Post by **Noah Zark** » Tue Apr 15, 2008 8:07 am

awp101 wrote: That would be a Husqvarna M40 IIRC.

Correct, and the second photo in the OP is that of a Swedish Husqvarna Vapenfabriks M40. The giveaway is the little round button at the back, the grip emblems, and of course the "Husqvarna Vapenfabriks" legend across the top of the pistol.

The top photo is that of a Finnish M35, manufactured by Valtion Kiivarithedas, "VKT" or loosely, "State Arms Works."

The correct pronounciation of Husqvarna is "hoosh-far-nuh." In Swedish (svenska) the "sq" is pronounced as "sh" following a vowel.

Noah

Post by **Hobie** » Tue Apr 15, 2008 8:28 am

I've shot one. Recoil was very mild. Don't ask me about the trigger pull...

Rusty · Post by **Rusty** » Tue Apr 15, 2008 1:30 pm

Well Noah Paul Harvy say Husk-Varna when he talks about their chain saws.

Tycer · Post by **Tycer** » Tue Apr 15, 2008 1:37 pm

and now for the rest of the story....

http://www.olegvolk.net/gallery/technology/arms/lahti/

http://www.quarry.nildram.co.uk/Lahti.html

http://www.gotavapen.se/gota/m40/pist40_1.htm

Bruce Scott · Post by **Bruce Scott** » Tue Apr 15, 2008 4:56 pm

Noah Zark wrote:
awp101 wrote: That would be a Husqvarna M40 IIRC.

Correct, and the photo in the OP is that of a Swedish Husqvarna M40, not a Finnish M35.

Noah

Yes, I grabbed that from the quoted article without bothering to find the real thing.

The 'shipment' turns out to be nine L35 pistols.

Photo of an L35 now added.

Noah Zark · Post by **Noah Zark** » Wed Apr 16, 2008 8:32 am

Rusty wrote:Well Noah Paul Harvy say Husk-Varna when he talks about their chain saws.

Da Paul Harvey tala inte svenska.

Say "Husk-Varna" or "Huska-Varna" in front of a Swede and he'll crack a grin if polite, and downright laugh if not.

Noah